Viva New Mexico Chile Festival in Los Lunas

This weekend Hatch, New Mexico, In the southern part of the state, is hosting their infamous annual Chile Festival. It’s a spectacular event for chili lovers, but is quite a distance from Albuquerque. Don’t despair if you can’t attend, because Central New Mexico now has it’s own Chile Celebration next weekend, and I would love it to become as successful as the original Hatch Valley Chile Festival.

The Viva New Mexico Chile Festival will be held next weekend in Los Lunas, just south of Albuquerque. So much closer than Hatch! Viva New Mexico Chile Festival is having some issues with their website, and it can be a bit difficult to read so I am providing as much info as I can for you all.

Viva New Mexico Chile Festival2012Saturday, September 8, 10am to 9pmSunday, September 9, 10am to 7pmWagner Farms
1440 Desert Willow Rd, Los Lunas, New MexicoDirections – From I-25, exit at 203. Go west on Main Street 1/2 mile to Desert Willow Rd. Turn right (north) and continue on this road that will lead you straight into Wagner Farms.

Here’s what to expect…
New Mexico Grown Chile – Lots of it! Green chile- roasted or fresh, and red chile ristras, or bagged, or powdered, whatever you need!New Mexico Chile productsLive Music all day, every day.(Download the Music Schedule for both days)
Creative arts and crafts for sale
Plenty to eat and drink, including a Beer GardenA Salsa and Chile Cook-Off – Best Red Chile – Best Green Chile – Best SalsaA Corn Maze, Hayrides in the Chile Fields, U-Pick-It gardensAgricultural Exhibits, Pony Rides, Cow Milking demos – show your kids where milk really comes from besides a bottle or carton!
The Pope of Peppers himself, Dave DeWitt, will be doing a book signing, and there will be a presentation by The Chile Pepper Institute’s own BG Burr.(Download the Event Schedule for both days), because there’s lots more fun going on than I can fit here.

Don’t miss out! This is a great family event…and the price is right too. Children 2 and under get in free, kids from 3 to 11 pay $5, and for everyone else the entry fee is $7. The dates are perfect, so to not conflict with the busy schedule we all have on Labor Day Weekend, and we can all take the train to get there! Los Lunas Schools will be providing shuttle service from the NM Railrunner station to the festival grounds and it will be timed with the arrivals and departures of the train. See the RailRunner schedules here:

For more information you may try their website, as they may get it sorted out this weekend, or call 505-459-0719. You may also use email – roxanne@wagnerfarmescorrales.com.

Well, that’s about it! Come on out and help make the Viva New Mexico Chile Festival a huge success. I’d like to see this Central New Mexico chile event go on and on for years to come. Viva New Mexico Chile! The best in the world!

I know the best things to do in Albuquerque!
Sarah Dolk, Adobe Nido Bed & Breakfast
Expert on Destination Albuquerque and Central New Mexico!